The New York Herald Newspaper, November 12, 1875, Page 4

INTERNAL REVENUE. Annual Report of the Commissioner for the Past Fiscal Year. TAXES COLLECTED FROM ALL SOURCES. Character and Extent of the Frauds of the Whiskey Ring. Wasurxeros, D. C., Nov. 11, 1875. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue bas com- pleted his report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1875 The document, which is very voluminous, ex- hibits tables showing the receipts from each specific source of revenue, and the amounts refunded in each collection district, State and Territory of the United States for the fiscal year; also the number and value of Internal Revenue stamps ordered monthiy by the Commissioners, the receipts from the sale of stamps and the commissions allowed thereon; also the num- Der and value ef stamps for special taxes, tobacco, cigars, snuff, distilled spirits ana fermented liquors, issued monthly to Collectors during the fiscal year; also showing the territorial distribution of Internal Revenue from various sources in the United States for each fiscal year from June 30, 1864, to June 30, 1875, in- elusive; also the aggregate receipts from each col- lection district, State and Territory forthe fiscal year from June 30, 1863, to 1875, inclusive, and the total collections from each specific source of revenue for the | game fiscal years; the receipts from special taxes under the act of June 6, 1872, in each collection district, State and Torritory for the special tax year ended April 80, 1875; abstracts of reports of the District Attorneys concerning suits and prosecutions under the Internal | Revenue laws during the fiscal year and an abstract of seizures of property for violation of the Internal Rev- enue laws for the year. The report shows that the actual amount of receipts {nto the Treasury from all sources from and after June 30, 1861, to June 30, 1374, exclusive of loans and Treasury notes, was as follows :— Ise 1,973,710, 367 91 966,323) 14,810,189 37 22'151,958 02 236,084,982 94 192,557,117 46 Commencing with the year 1866, there has been a continuous repeal, gaining on year by year, of such in- ternal taxes as were most oppressive, or, at least, as gave rise to most complaint, until at present but few subjects of taxation remain, The taxes are now levied apon distilled spirits, fermented liquors, manufactured tobacco, snuif and cigars, upon articles embraced in Schedule, upon such occupations, upon banks, checks, deposits, circulation and capital of banks. In a table exhibiting the sums collected during the several fiscai years, ranging from 1807 to 1875 inclusive, it ap- Pears that the collections during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, were $102,644,746 98, while the collections for the year ending June 30, 1875, were $10,545,154 23, the collections for the former year having been in consequence of the duties repealed from year to year, less than any single year since the system went into operation except the first, 1863, when the collections were $41,003,192 93, The increase during the last fiscal year is owing in part to the increase of duties laid by the act of March 3, 1875, upon distilled spirits, manufactured tobacco, cigars and cigarettes, and in part to the taxes collected unger the laws re- pesied Extraordinary efforts having been put forth yy the internal revenue office to collect the delinquent taxes duc irom banks and bankers, railroad and other corporations, and taxes due on incomes, Jegacies and successions.’ A statement is given showing the re- cerpis under the act of March 3, 1875. up to and in- clusive of June 30, 1875, from the different articles sub- ject to an increased tax, which were distilled spirits, el cigarettes and manufactured tobacco, showing | @ total tax returned of $3,203,818 85. The tax returned | upon distilled spirits was $1,779,799 85. ‘The net amount of receipts from all sources of imter- mal revenue during the last fiscal year in the several States is given as foltows Alabama, $111,816 $71,823 39; California, 631'82; Connecticut, ware, , 31" 03; $184, rizona, $10,263 06; Arkansas, 983,595 19; Colorado, $70,- 228 63; Dakota, $10,040 18; istrict of Columbia, $111,- $47 31; Georgia, $387,154 135, tinois, $17,627,668 55; Indiana, $4,- lowa, $1,040,064 '15; Kansas, §133,- 635 «04; '' Keptucky, $9,022,636 66; isi- .151 85; ‘Maine, $107,261 '90; | Mary- food: 2,755,845 40; Massachusetis, $2,670,491 15; Mictligan, $1,190,506 06; Minnesota, $228,302 49; Miss- jastppi, $96,085 88; Missouri, $4.501,850'77; Montana, | $23,666 10; Nebraska, goats 30; Nevada, $53,141 205 New Hampshire, ' $298,812 New Jersey 478 29; New Mexico, $21,965 52; New York, $15,200,808 24; North Carolina,’ $1,620,904 37; Ohio, $14'656.205 30: Oregon, $47.930 64; Pennsylvania, 149,054 40; Rhode Igland, $231,767’ 50; South Caro- linh, "$120,818; Tennesseo, $858,910 '50; Texas, $257,448 37; Ucah, $31,545 51; Vermont, $58,251 85; Vir- ginia $7,659,639 97; Washington, $21,146 60; West Vir- 684 38; Wisconsin, $2,720,468 14; Wyoming, oe $508, | 11,942 11. The number of distilleries registered during the year ending June 30, 1875, were 4,736, and the number operated 4,608. Of the number operated 656 werd grain distilleries, 7 were molasses distilleries and 4,946 ‘were fruit distilleries. WHISKEY PRAUDS. Public attention bas been often called within the past fow months to extensive frauds committed in certain localities upon the revenue by distilleries and rectifiers | of distilled spirits. 1 propose briefly as 1 can to gi an account, first, of the checks, guards and protections against frauds established by law; second, of the man- ner in which whiskey frauds, so called, lately expeoed Were perpetrated upon the government; third, th checks recently established to prevent a recurrence of the same; fourth, to suggest the legislation which, in my opinion, is necessary to insure a fuller collection in the future of taxes upon distilled spirits, and fifth, to show the extent of frauds perpetrated. First—The system of surveillance now in force at all distilleries to insure that none of the product may escape taxation is based upon the presumption that all local officers are honest, and where such 1s the case it works admirably and does insure the collection of tax | upon every gallon of spirits produced by the distiller, It could hardly be expected, however, that among our 2,300 storekeepers and gaugers some would not prové | dishonest, especially since there is always hear them, in the person of the distiller, if he happens to be an ‘unscrupulous man, a tempter ‘to move them by bribes. In order, therefore, to effectually prevent fraud, it is 0 establish a system that shall surely detect it and that shall be followed by certain and severe pen- alties, With the disgiller it 18 a matter of dollars and centa, so that, if the rik in committing fraud is made So great that it docs not pay, he wiil not only be nonest bimself, but will inform on others, as a matter of self. ction. The present system may be described | bri — follows:—A storekeeper is assigned to every | distillery, whose duty itis record the time of the | | filling and of the emptying ol avery mash tah, to weigh. ae of grain that 1s used inthe mash and to see that the law is strictly complied with, The cistern room, where the spirits are received, is placed in charge of a gauger, who determines the exact quantity | produced and the gauge ofeach barre) inw which the | Spirits are drawn. The pipes from the still to the cis- | tern room are continuos, so that the distiller has.no | access to the spirits until after they are gauged and the | quantity determined. Each barrel filled in the cistern room must be serially numbered, beginning with No. 1 ‘and running consecutively without duplication, A warehouse stamp must then be aflixed to the | barrel, which stamp bas also a serial number never duplicated, and shows the number of barrel, contents in proof and wine gatlons, name of gauger and date of affixing. The barrel so marked is then placed ina warehouse on the distillery premises, where it can re- | main, not to exceed one month, without a warehousing bond, or not to exceed one year when such a bond is sven. When the package is to be withdrawn the Col- tor furnishes, on application and after payment of the tax, a taxpaid stamp, which is filled in with the same number of the package, proof and wine gallons as appears on the warehouse stamp, and bas itself another distinctive serial number, which is never Wuplicated. The package of spirits is now ready for market, and is | #0 marked and brande: to enable any revenue officer to identity it wherever found, since no other package can exist legally with the same numbers, marks and brands. The distiller is required to keep a book in ‘which he records a full description of each package, ®pecifying all the marks and brands above specified, and the name of the party to whom ench package 16 sold. The perpen is required to keep a book which records a like description of the package, and states oth from whom it was purchased and to whom be sella it, A complete record is thus kept of the sq “harenbouts of cach package. of spirits untii it is dumped reetifle OF reaches the consumer. , Lae: The system of Checks, as applied to rectifiers, Is as ‘follows :—A rectilier is permivied to rectity spirits Bought by him and place the same upon the market ander 4 rectifier’s stamp. When ho purchases th ‘and is ready to dump for rectitication be makes outa full description of the packages, giving all date of original gauge and name of irits, and sonds for and to certify | the face of the rectifier’s notice, An a in which he lions of spirits charged with the total proot gal- "gs stamps, placed on spirits | at of establishment. The collector is not to issue rectifier’s stamps for a number of proof gallons in excess of the number reported as dumped | | May f, 1875, of fraudulent spirit NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, as above indicated. It is Moers were honest, the \ecks effectively prevent any spirits being sold in the market that had not paid the roper tax. PrspoomD rate frand the distfior mast first ‘To perpet obtain the consent of the store! to use more rain than his survey calls for, It thas a proven by ex that a fermenta- tion that will produce the ield of largest spirits from grain cannot be made in oe ee forty- eight hours, regul allow this time for fermentation and forbid more than gne filling of the tubs in fete Markl Soars, Sans requiring the tubs to remain empty Tor twenty-four hours, If, how- ever, the distiller will prepare what is known as “quick yeast,” he is enabled to complete a fermentation in twenty-four hours, or less time, though with a loss of Pherg in spirits. This he can weil afford if he can sell aif his rg rs without tax, Having gained the consent of the storekeeper who keeps his books, as if the law were being complied with, the distiller makes | two fermentations where one is allowed, and then | das nearly double tne one of spirits that | the books show producét, The tiller who has this illicit’ §=product ol and = does. | it the market in the the reuse of ames, not dare place upon only way possible—that * A since the detection of a single package so gogo would subject him to the severe penalties of the law. He must, therefore, call to his assistance the rectifier, who, even it detected, 1s dealt with much more leniently | by the law, while the difficulties incurred in detooting ‘him are much greater than in the case of the distiller, | To make the transfer of illicit spirits—from the distil- lery to the rectifying house—the gauger in charge of the cistern rodin must either permit barrels to be filled and surreptitiously removed without stamps, or he must affix stamps which have once been used. If the spirits were removed to the rectifying house without | stamps no notice of rectification describing the same could be sent to the collector, and, therefore, no crodit | could be had by which to obtain rectifiers’ stamps. Two methods of surmounting this difficulty have been in vogue, The first was made possible by the fact that rectifiers’ stamps have heretofore been so prepared that each stamp could protect any number of gallons which the gaugers chose to fill in. This character of fraud will be best indicated by an illustration:—A certain rectifier buys from a distiller say 100 pac of tax. aid spirits, containing say forty proof gallons each, © files with the collector the descriptive notice above | mentioned, and asks for an issue of rectitlers’ stamps to | cover 4,000 gallons of spirits after rectification, A gauger is detailed to gauge these spirits out of the | rectifying tubs, carrying with him a book of blank stainps to be filled up according to the contents of each package. The gauger reports, on a prescribed form, | that the rectifier has placed the 4,000 gallons in, say | 400 packages containing ten gallons each, and returns the stubs of the stamps filled up in accordance with this statement. The packages so represented are after- ward found to contain say eighty gallons each and the stamps thereon are filled up in accordance therewith, so that, in fact, only fifty of the. stamps were used to cover the “‘straight spirfts” and under cove? of the re- maining 350 stamps 25,000 ions of illicit spirits are placed upon the market. This case1s by no means an extreme one, but is afair sample of what was the con- Stant practice in the districts herein specified. The other favorite method of placing illicit spirits on the market may be illustrated as follows:—The distiller sends to the rectifying house a number of bar- Tels of spirits, upon which the tax has been regularly paid. The descriptive notice aforesaid is filed and a gauger detailed, who reports the stamps destroyed; whereas the fact is that the stamps are not actually destroyed; either the packages with the stamps un- jed ure returned to the distiller and refilied with irits or the stamps are removed and placed distiller or rectiler on other barrels spirits, upon which no tax has been paid. These barrels are sent to the rectifier and by him shipped to some distant market without making any record of the transaction on his government books. A moditication of this form of brand consists in the rectitier filing a parely fictitious notice containing a description of spirits which he has never received and emptying in place thereof an equal quantity of illicit spirits. In one of the two ways abuve described all frauds recently discovered have been com- mitiea, and the government has lost thereby at least $4,000,000 in the last two years. The frauds have mainly been carried on at four places—namely, St Lou's, Milwaukee, Chicago and Evansville, and all at distilleries producing what is known as ‘*highwines.” This of spirits does not require ageing as does the fine sour mash whiskey made for drinking purposes. It consequently does not excite suspicion to find highwines on the market to-day that were produced yesterday. This rapid transfer from the distillery to the market affords facilities for the Touse of stamps which 1. scarcely feasible with the Whiskeys that require a year's warehousing before ing ready for market, since it would be pri i evidence of fraud if’a distiller of ne wears would not take advantage of the year whica the government allows his spirits “to remain in Warehouse without psyment of tax. If once in warehouse the government is sure of its tax; hence the comparatively small amount of fraud dis- covered in places producing fine whiskeys. As a further reason why fraud in these whiskeys cannot be perpe- trated, it may be stated that as arule they do not re- quire rectification, and the frauds above indicated can- Hot be committed without the aid of the rectifier. Turp—The checks which have lately been established to prevent the recurrence of such frauds as 1 have de- seribed are as follows:— First—As before stated every barrel of spirits pro- duced at a distillery bas a serial number | which is never duplicated. An account has | been opened with each distiller, in which is entered the serial number of every pack- age of spirits produced by him as fast as Teports of rectifiers are received, showing the dumping of these packages; the serial numbers argchecked off and an entry made showing the date of emptying and ‘the name of the rectifier. Transcripts have been re- quired monthly from the books of evory distiller, recti- fier and wholesale liquor dealer in the United States, containing full descriptions of the spirits purchased and sold by them. Complete abstracts ure made from | these transcripts so that all the spirits of each distiller as found in the several markets of the country are con- densed into one account monthly, These abstracts are then compared with the records showing the spirits | dumped by rectifiers, so that if spirits are placed upon the market aftor they are reported dumped, the fraud Wijl be detected at once, So perfect and unerring is the system that although the spirits may have passed | through several hands there is no trouble in fixing the guilt where it belongs This prevents the reuse of stamps which I have heretotore described as the | second method of committing frauds. ' Second—To aid still further in preventing this char- | acter of fraud this office has lately adopted new regu- | lations in regard tothe use of tax-paid stamps, by whieh a portion of the stamp is cut outat the time of dumping and returned with the gauger’s report. This effectually destroys the stamp and prevents its reuse, | while at the same time a suilicient amount of the en: | graving is shown upon the slip to determme whether | | ‘This act! Se: | a huge pile of bréken bricks and mortar. California, 202; Lunots, 165; Indi Kentucky, 36; Michigan, 199; Mit 105; Missouri 113; New’ Jersey, 02; Now York, 393;' Pennsylvania, nd) Wisconsin, 232; Massachusetts, 47, and Maryland, Aaah as ugenoral rule; brewers, produce one Darrel of as a gen wers uce one o beer from every two and a haif bashels of malt or its juivalent, the Internal Revenue Office announced its Sdepuen of that quantity asa basis for estimating the quantity of fermented liquors produced by the brewer in @ letter dated July 15, 1874, and assessments have been made from that time on the in gabe deficiency of such production, except when satisfactorily explained, | jon secured an increase of $1,577 in the tax on all fermented liquors. _A standard of production in the case of cigars having ‘Ween determined on iu a similar manner, thore is an increase of $105, 797. TOBACCO. ‘The total receipts from tobacco were $37,303,461, showing an increase as compared with the year ending June 30, 1874, of $4,060,586, and an increase over any revious fiscal year of $2,917,518, There were en, Pi the manufacture of tobacco, snuff and cigars during tho fiscal year 25,498 persons, and in the sale and dis- tribation of oe daub pore a (Basted making ‘an aggregate of persons or firms ly eng: in this branch of national industry. THM AMOUNT OF PENALTIES assessed this year is $331,993, an increase of $163,703 over jast year, The amount, however, includes assess- ments, amounting to $113,914, against certain mauu- facturing and other corporations, which, as in the case of the tax on the deposits, capital and circulation of banks, €¢., were not collected by reason of the act of Congress to which reference has been made. LEGACIES, The increase on legacies and successions is $58,119, and on incomes and dividends $588,808, The whole amount of taxes assessed during the year ended April 30, 1875, was $8,230,003, an increase over the amount during the previous year of $3,444,335, ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. After giving a statement of the organization of the Office of Internal Revenue, the Commissioner say: “The force of revenue agents is entirely inadequate to erform the duties contemplated by law, and there- fore be earnestly recommends that Con, be re- quested to authorize by law the employment and pay- ment of fifteen agents in addition to the present pum- ‘eer, With such a force he is confident that the coun- try can be so thoroughly piloted a8 to prevent the per- petration of fraud and greatly increase the revenue, ‘The balance of the report is devoted to the recom- mendations of the Commissioner for such changes in the internal revenue laws as expericnce has demon- strated will tend to the more full and complete collec- tion of the revenue, especially such as arise from dis- ‘tilled liquors. BOILER EXPLOSION IN PATERSON. pith LEN al THE BOILER OF AN OLD MILL BLOWN A DIS- TANCE OF NINE HUNDRED FEET—RBEMARK- ABLE ESCAPES AND INCIDENTS. A great sensation was occasioned yesterday morning, about nine o’clock, in Puterson. The first intimation of the matter was a terrific explosion that shook the whole city like the discharge of a monster piece of artillery. The scene of the accident was the two story brick building on Bridge street, erected many years ago as one of the first silk mulls in Paterson, and thitner, after the explosion, ran great crowds of people from all directions. Tho first reports were to the effect that a number of people had been killed and wounded, thereby creating great alarm and excitement; but it soon transpired that although con- siderable property was destroyed and there were a great many narrow escapes, yet by some singular for- tune no one was injured. It was one of the boilers connected with the Benson Mill that had exploded. It was iocated im a small brick building in the rear of the mill proper, amd was put in about eighteen months ago by Peter Dorgeval & Co., the present proprietors of the establishment, It was purchased by them second handed and is said to have been criminally unsafe and worthless when first put in. ‘THS ENGINEER'S STORY. Since Dorgevai & Co. have been in the possession of the place this boiler has been in cbarge of a Polish engineer named Damien Nowakonski, who was also employed about the place as general jobber in conuce- 109; Iowa, 141; tion with his duties as engineer, Ho man of fair intelligence, and evidently understood the care of boilers, but only gives the fol- lowing account of the accident. About ten minutes before the explosion he left the boiler with the gauge indicating forty pounds of steam and the glass gauge indicating a good supply of water, suf- ficient, in his estimation, to last an hour or more with perfect safety. He had gone up stairs and was engaged on one of the machines almost immediately over the boiler when the explosion took place. The scene of confusion and destruction ‘that immediately resulted was dreadful In the building were only four hands— wo men and two girls—besides the lady over- soer of the latter, and, strange to say, not one was injured or even badly shocked: One of the girls ran ont to the high front stoop and sprang over the railing out to the side- walk, adistanco of not less than eighteen feet. The other girl started to run down stairs, but, tripping, rolled down to the bottom. The others stood nok stil, paralyzed with fear, but not one was in the least injure ‘The explosion lifted the whole shell of tho boiler in- tact, weighing, perhaps, 1,500 pounds, It went high up into the air to a distance of at least 209 fect, as it was geen by different parties all over the city, and {t landed in Division et, just east of the Erie Railway, a distance of over feet, orabout two blocks andahalf from the mill Tho flagman at the crossing, near where this mass landed, was nearly thrown from his feet by tho shock to the earth, and the noise of its fall was almost as great as that of the explosion itseif. The high brick chimney at the rear of the engine house was torn from its foundation and toppled over, Near by the whole rear wall was shaken dewn, but the only damage done to the main building was the shattering of the the stamp is genuine, Thxrd—To prevent what I have described as the first | class of frauds—namely, removing spirits to the rectifying house without stamps and dis. | posing the same by filling stubs of | Tectifiers’ stamps with a small number of | gallons, and the stamp with a much greater number— | the following check has been lately adopted:—A new | Series of rectifiers’ statnps have been issued, in which | each stamp bas printed upon its face the number of | gations the package contains, so that the stub must necessarily show the same thing Every gallon of | spirits for which arectifier’s stamp is issued must of ne- cessity be returned by the gauger and charged to the | rectifier, tis therefore impossible for him to get rid | of illicit spirits, even ifhe succeed im removing them from the distillery to the rectifying house. Fourth—As a further check upon frauds such as I | ot have described, the vigorous prosecution of the bonds. | men of more than forty storekeepers and gaugers, for | the forteiture of the full penalty of the bond, which has been set on foot, will do much to make such oilicers honest. Fourta—With regard to additional legislation required | to enforce the honest collection of the tax on distilled spirita, I give it as my opinion that the only law neces- sary is one that shall make the requirements as strin- | ent, and the penalties for defrauding the government 8 severe, in the case of the rectifier as they now are in the case of the distiller, The rectifier should | be required to give a bond in an amount equal to the tax represented by all the spirits he can oe rectify each month. The house and tract of | jand upon which it is situated, occupied by the estab- | lishment, should be forfeited to the United States in | case of fraud. He should not be allowed to handle afly | pth at bis rectifying house except those he pur- | chases for rectification and sells under rectifiers’ | stamps, Under the present system of detecting frauds | at least thirty duys must elapse before the discovery could be made and the guilt fixed. As the apparatus in arectifying house, capable of refining @ quantity of | spirits upon which the tax would amount to $100,000 | @ month, may not be worth more than $10,000, it | will readily be seen that under the present Jaw, | which only forfeits the apparatus and spirits owned by | him at the e of seizure, a rectifier, may aid in de- frauding the government of $100,000 and forfeit only | $10,000, and by absconding to a foreign country ho also escapes the criminal punishment, I have also to sug- gest that the law now in force im regard to returns to be made by rectifiers 1 80 indetinite that some legislation | 1g needed to enforce the regulations of the Commis. | sioner, I aiso think it would be better if rectifiers, | distillers and wholesale liquor dealers were required to | make transcripts ot their books monthly instead of this | Jabor being performed by local officers as itis at pres- | ent. It would also relieve officials of an immense amount of labor, avd would accomplish tne more im- rtant result of preventing the destruction of books by parties abowt to be detected in fraud, There would then be a sworn copy in this office that would always ve admissible evidence In courts against the guilty parties. T amfirmly of the opinion that the present large tax apon the distilled spirits can be collected with but stnali loss, ‘This opinion is based upon the fact that every store- | keeper, gau joyé who is connected with the | disullery whe petrated becomes a pen- | sioner upon th: distiller. I therefore, distillers be | kept under such strict surveil ce that the amount of | money gained by fraud is not sufficient to pay a large | 1 officers and workmen in necessary collusion | with them se nag iy ted the fraud, they will, as a aiter of policy, be honest. “herk as eA indication of the extent of the frauds above described | have the honor to report that docu- mentary evidence is in possession of this office which has warranted the seizure of twenty-four distilleries and thirty-seven rectifying houses and implicating over filty United States gaugers and storekeepers. This evi- dence also shows the issue between Juty 1, 1874, and ts, by the duplication of 20,000 packagos, containing robably 1,200,000 proof gallons, and, by the ald of false gauging, to the addi- tional amount of 1,000,000 proof gallon This, of course, is but a portion of the fraud actually com- mitted, but in itself indicates the loss of tax to the government in ten months to an amount not less than $1,650, 000. PRODUCTION OF DBRER. The number of brewers engaged in the manafacture | Of fermented liquors during the flacal year ended June 90, 1675, was 2,784 Of this number there were, in | room probably no less than a dozen hol | flues must hav | other theory is that some caw glass in the windows. Adjoining the mill, In the yard attached to Mr. Weld- man’s house, Mrs. Weidman’ was engaged in hanging up clothes when one of the fron flues from the boiler struck into the ground at her very side, burying itself at least two feet into the earth. ohn Brant, a baker, was driving past at the time, in Division street, when & great quantity of flying missiles landed by his’ horse’s | foet, but, singularly, did not do the least damage. | Several’ of William Van Reinsseler’s children | were playing in the yard noxt to the mill when at least “a wagon load of broken bricks and iron showered about their heads, but not one was scratched. John Laird’s building was completely riddled with bricks, trowels, brooms and pieces of iron, some of which’ remained fastened in the sheathing; but the great majority went through boards and plastering, across the room, and, having | epent their force, hit ‘the oppotite wail and’ dro} harmlessly on the floor. The lower part of this house is occupied by Albert Ramsey, whose family had @ remarkably narrow escape. In their dining les, six inches in diameter, were made through the wall with the bricks and pieces of iron which flew into the house, Mrs. Ramsey alleges that a piece of red hot coal also went through the room and out at the other side of the house, and yet during all this bombardment not one in the room was injured. One of the boiler flues | went over @ whole block of buildings and pierced the basement window of a house in Paterson street, not a foot distant from a silk weaver named . R. Edwards, who sat there working at his loom. Another of these flues knocked off the corner of a dormer window in Mr. Van Houton’s house at the cor- ner of Paterson and Bridge streets; and stil another piece, measuring some seven fect in length, was carried over five blocks and landed in a vacant lot on the south of Broadway, near the residence of Dr. Whiteley, over 1,800 feet distant from the mill. In Van lar’s yard also dropped the door of the boiler, near where the children were playing. Two dogs, belonging to the engineer, that were. sleeping in the boiler house, have not been heard of since the explosion. When the boiler was thrown over the houses it must have been partially filled with water, for all the buildings in the line of its route were drenched with the water that poured over it as it passed over their roofs. THR Loss. The loss from the explosion to the building will robably not exceed $300. The mill is owned by lesers, Hoxsey & Beam, who purchased {t about six ‘ears ago under a foreclosure, The boiler can probably replaced for a similar amount As to the cause of te explosion, it ts the opinion of some engineers that the water having been allowed to become ba § Jow in the boiler a gas bad been ors from whic! the explosion urred. Another theory is thatthe been red hot in consequence of th jowness of the water when the engineer put on t pump. The appearance of the flues picked up since the disaster seems to substantiate this theory, Still an- had stopped the pump Ivis said that the "Sage had a feature from working. of stopping in consequeses of an obstruction of one of its attachments, and it - quently had to be struck with bammer to keep it working. The pump, after the explosion, was found on Division street, near the mill, The boiler 1s alleged to have been old and worthless, and great in- | dignation is expressed toward the owners of the estab- lishment for maintaining such s source of danger in so thickly settied a locality. It is almost miraculous that several persons wero not killed. Itis in all respects one of the most remarkably fortunate accidents that ever occurred in Paterson, HOBOKEN'S POUNDMASTER. Mrs. Collins, the wife of the Hoboken Poundmaster, Jeremiah Collins, took refuge at the Hoboken police station early yesterday and stated that her husband had put two pounds of butter in the fire and put her clothes on them to burn; that he threw a loaf of broad at her ten year child; that he fired four pistol shots in their dwelling room the other day; also that he @x- ted good meals and g's ber hardly any money. der Bohnstedt and Police Captain Donovan, of Hoboken, will take care that the poor woman is not mo- leated for the future, | were made on the recommendation of ‘‘citizens FRAUDS IN PUBLIC WORKS. LABORERS ON THE SEWERS PLAYING CARDS— “PH OBJECTION TO MACHINES I8 THAT THEY caNNoT voTE!”—INOREASE OF LA- BORERS BEFORE THE ELECTION. Yesterday's session of the Senate Investigating Com- mittee, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, was decidedly fruit fut. The first witness, William B Dixon, @ resident on the Boulevard, said that be bad watched the laborers, and found that out of a gang of fifty or sixty only twenty or thirty would be at work, and nine or ten would go some distance back to play ‘seven up;” he once walked four times, from 106th to 110th street, in the same time {t took a laborer with an empty cart to go there once; the men, in his opinion, only did three and a half hours’ work per day; the cost of the work ‘was about twice more than it would be if the work were done conscientiously. Mr. Cyrus Clark, of No. 741 Fifth ue, @ property owner along the Boulevard, counted the men at work, and out of a gang of twenty only two would be really performing labor; the remainder were ‘loafing about,” an some of those engaged on the sewers were playing cards; there was an official now in office who told a contractor, who offered to do the work with blasting machines at one-half the qost now impcsed by the laborers, “The objection to your machines is THaT THEY CaN’? vorR!” Mr. Henry Kelly gave similar observations in regard to the labor performed on the Boulevard. The cost of the improvements was twice as high as it should be, The work was well done, but could be done more cheaply by the adoption of the contract system in tho Department of Public Works, As regards the abuses in the labor ticket system, he knew men who had sold their tickets for $10, and others who had paid $20 for being employed with a horse and wagon. He tried to procure employment for honest, good laborers, but never succeeded in that endeavor because he had no political influence, John Brower, alsoa resident along the Boulevard, was in favor of contract work, The assessments were so heavy as to almost “oat up’ the property. The more property one had in that locality the poorer he was, Since the property had so greatly depreciated, the valuation had been raised fifty per cent. He would be very glad to have the Riverside Park drive completed if it were only done by contract. He thought its com- pletion would greatly enhance the property’s value. Commissioner Porter was the next witness, He said he had seen from the newspapers that his and his deputy's failure to appoar before the committee had been misconstrued as intentional contempt of the com- mittee; this was not the case—on the contrary, he de- sired to come, but was rather unwell. ‘The apology was gracefully received by the Cnair- man, Senator Booth. Commissioner Porter was then asked if he had brought the exhibits requested by the committee, and he replied in the affirmative, drawing forth at the same time a buge parcel, which it must have taken all tho Commissioner’s strength to carry. Pho Commissioner read from a paper voluminous answers to interrogatories previously put to him and which he was at that time unab/o to answer from memory. These replies were in regard to the cost of certain improvements, the time occupied by these works, &c. Mr. Day rt—Di ki ty Inspector {i ir. Davenpo! o you know an in your de} ment named Frederick Meyer? ir. Porter—Yes, sir. Mr, Davenport-—What is he an inspector of ? Mr. Porter—Regulating and grading on the Boule- vard. Mr. Daveny ‘Do you know that Meyer was the proprietor of a barber shop on Seventh avenue at the ‘timo of his appgintment and is so still? ‘Mr. Porter (smiling in a manner which showed that this startling piece of information did not terrify him)— No, sir, Ido not. I should hope, though, that the well- known’ versatility of the American people would enable them to do these things at the same time. vughter.) Mr. Davenport—Do yow know an inspector of sewer connections named Greener? Mr. Porter—No, sir. Mr, Davenport—You don’t beer saloon in Fiftieth street Mr. Porter—No, sir. (Laughter.) Mr. Porter finally made a statemont regarding his previous residence in New York, which, he said, had extended till 1872. Deputy Commissioner Gumbleton, a small featured man with a tiny and intensely black mustache and scholastic looking large spectacles, said the appoint- ments were made through him. He did nothing with- out consulting the Commissioner. Mr. Guiibleton gave pretty much the same account of the mode of issu- ing labor tickets and its liability to abuses as that given by Commissioner Porter at a previous sitting of the committee, However, he declared that he had never known of acase where @ man had obtained work on somebody else's ticket. Mr. Gambleton admitted that NO CBRTIFICATE OF A MASTER MASON ‘was required of sewer inspectors, although the law pro- vided 1t and although it was the custom under the old Croton Board. It would be a good rule to require such a certificate of sewer inspectors. Mr. Gumbleton was asked how large a proportion of these inspectors were masons, and said from one-half to three-tourtha) He was then shown lists of inspectors in the department and requested to state which of them were masons, and could only point out two or three in @ list of twelve or fifteen who were masons, He was asked what painshe took to satisfy himself that the men appointed as in- spectors were not engaged in other pursuits, and said he made it a rile to mvestigato the fact, Mr. Davenport—Well, what did you do in tho case of Frederick Meyer? Mr. Gumbleton—Well, I made the usual inquiries, Mr, Davenport—Of whom? Mr. Gumbieton—Of Alderman Blessing, among others. I beard he was engaged in tonsorial occupa- tion. (Laughter.) Mr. Davenport—Was there any understanding that bis “tonsdrial occupation’’ should not interfere with his duties as an inspector? Mr. Gumbleton—There may not have been in his particular case, but in most cases there is. Mr, Gumbleton, when asked as to the influences which procured appointments, made rather contradic- tory statements. le first said the Tammany General Committee of a district controlled only from fifty to seventy-five per cent of the appointments, but Tr. ward corrected himself, saying that he only meant the committee ‘‘ag such” in giving that figure, but that it did not include recommendations from “INDIVIDUAL” MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTER. He first said nearly fiity per cent of the appointments ner- ally,” but finally, after some hard barge org ad. mitted that those “citizens” belonged to the \- many District Committces on Patramage, the Commit- tee on Organization and the General Committee. Mr, Davenport—What proportion of the appointments have you made on the recommendation of citizens not belonging to the General Committee, the district com- mittees and the Committee on Organization? (Laugh- ter.) Mr. Gumbleton—I should say from twenty to er per cent. It might not reach the last figure, but should say fully twenty per cent. Probably ten per cent of these were poor men who made their own ap- plication. In regard to Foreman McCugh Mr. Gumbloton said he had only known him once to be intoxicated and then he was given a ‘moral lecture,” and that was all He did not know that McCugh and other foromen had been arrested frequently for being grossly drunk while ‘‘at work,” and he never heard that one foreman who was about to be arrested waé locked up in a tool box by his men. (Laughter.) When asked as to the Increase of the laboring force previous to the election he adnritted that 270 men were put on the Boulevard and 400 were changed. Since the election more than this number have been discharged. Mr. Gumbleton significantly added that last year the increase was 1,000, but Mr. Davenport interrupted him, saying, ‘1 Ye ask you that!” (This interruption was not prompted by the fact that last year Mr. Van Nort, republican, was Commissioner.) 0 committee adjourned till half-past ten o'clock on Monday next. ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON CRIME. The Assembly Committee on Crime purposed visiting the schoolship Mercury yesterday morning, but wero prevented from doing so in consequence of the recep- tion of a letter pe cone Irving from Mr. Phillips, the Secretary of theCommissioners of Charities and Cor- rection, to the offect that the visit of the committee had been postponed. THE QUARANTINE INVESTIGATION. Vag that he keepsa lager TESTIMONY OF HEALTH OFFICER VANDERPOERL— SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORM. The Legislative Committee on Quarantine and Emt- gration Affairs resumed their sessions yesterday morn- ing at Castle Garden. All the members of the commit- teo were present except Assemblyman McGuire, Some information of iniportance was elicited from Dr. 8. Oakley Vanderpoel, the Health Officer, In giving a oment of the property of the State under his charge at Quarantine the witness fald {t consisted of the boarding station, the buildings upon {t, two steamers, small boats, &c,, and, further down the river, Hoffman and Dix islands, with the buildings thereon; while, still further down, the bulk Illinois 1s under the charge of a deputy health officer, to whom vessels with fever on board report for inspeo- tion, The daties of the Health Officer are to report every vessel from foreign ports and to make an examination ofevery vessel The duties of the Deputy Health Otticer are to report at certain seasons vessels coming from Southern ports, and from May to October ai those coming from the West Indies, or ports where their crews are likely to have contracted yellow fever. ‘The station is under the genoral care of the Commis- sioners of Quarantine, who have also. an appellate power over the decisions of the Health Oficer. When questioned as to the boats at the station the witness was of opinion that one boat was sufficient, but that it should be smaller than the Hopkins and larger than the Fenton, both of which aro of inconvenient size for varding purposes, The present law upon Quaran- tine the witness thought very defective; in fact, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET. 80 stringent are its restrictions plied wi stroyed. Commisston shor be abolished and their a ywer vested ins board Mt the radian et ber of Commerce, the tion of Health, The sources of revenue at Quarantine are care of the sick. Peg hang the superintendent of the Doarding station, receives Aes board for eacl Baliess. Bad the St rh ae cao one burst and medicine. les Oo a fineerand deck hands pf the Fenton are to be reduced, re 4 stitution. He also thought that it might be managed Drees etd manner for about $35,000 a year, wile at present costs fully $65,000. MADHOUSE METHODS. STATE COMMISSIONER ORDRONAUX'S INVESTIGA- TION OF THE FLATBUSH ASYLUM—TESTIMONY OF THE MATRON, STEWARD AND ASSISTANT The fifth session of the commission appointed to in- vestigate the alleged abuses in the Flatbush Lunatic Asylum was held yesterday afternoon in the rooms of the directors of the Fireman’s Trust Insurance Com- pany, Brooklyn. 3 DANIEL RILLING. ‘The first witness called was Daniel Rilling, who affirmed that he was once @ patient in the asylum; he went there May 23, 1875, and remained there until about three weeks ago; was in hall No. 7; the attendants were Frank Lasselle and Pat Killilahane; witness went out about three times during his confinement; was excited in going through the ball the first day and spilledacup of water; one of the attendants then put him in a’ strait- Jacket, which was so tight he could scarcely breathe; the next morning when ordered to get up he refused to do 0; finaily he did rise and, stumbling, ho fell down; while prostrate Pat kicked him, and Frank also beat him; he went to bed then, after receiving such a beat- ing as ho did not believe a human being could stand; after the beating they left bim; the same day one of the doctors asked how witnoss’ face was so badly bruised, and Frank said, “Pat did it;” Pat hung his face and said nothing; witness did not complain except to his wife for fear ne might get more punishment; after the Jacket was taken off the straps were once used during his stay in the asylum, which lasted for three weel witness was not examined by any physican when he entered the institution; he was not searched, but was handed over to a nurse; he had frequently seen attend- ants club patients with a broomstick across the legs when they did not move quick enough; witness never ‘was fn an asylum before this occasion; he had be arrested by police officers, who broke into his house one Sunday and took him off; he had had some trouble with people who lived next door to him, and they wanted to have bim removed for some reason or other; witness is @ cork cutter by occupation, and worked until within a couple of days of the time of his removal; ho was studying a little scripture about that time, and he ts still pursuing that study. * To Commissioner Cunningham—The doctor said to Pat, when Frank said it was Pat who struck witness, “You ought not to have done that,” and Pat hung his head in shame; saw nurse three times only strike pa- tients, PATRICK O’SULLIVAN. Patrick O'Sullivan testified that he had been a patient three times in the asylum; the first time was from July to August, 18744 the second time was in March, 1875; the last time was for three months; was in hall 2 and hall 7; there wore worse cases in the latter hal ways worked voluntarily; helped the cook and went im and ont of the building; saw many a patient beaten; the first time he went there, in 1874, one of the nurses, knowing ho was of a hot temper, did everything to persecute him; Lassolle got him a room and the othor nurse was angry with him and went to his folks in Williamsburg, where he told them everything; witness saw @ jacket puton a patient by an attendant, who then struck the latter and gave him two doses ot medi- this attendant is now in hall B; his name is Kane; witnoss knew that Kane was telling everything to his (witness’) wife; knew it from his friends, TESTIMONY OF THE MATRON, Mrs. Mary Cunningham, matron of the asylum, testi- fied that shv had been matron there for threo’ yea and ahalf; never bad any previous experience in a lunatic asylum befor was in the habit of visiting the wards and becoming acquainted with the patients every day; had no right to appoint the assistants, ex- tthe cook, chambermaid and Iaundress; had nover known the gave tho engineer and wards; remombered Dr. Macdonald being thore; h never remarked that female patients shouid not sew so much; he never complained of that; had had sewing done she first went since; with other matrons = tt been ‘customary to give patients private sewing to do, but witness had not done so; never heard of female patients being insulted; witness believed Patrick Corr to be a very good man} did not believe the report to the contrary against him; did not know whether he was in the employ of the institution now or not; there ig no night watchman for the female wards; the attendants sit up in case of sickness and attend the patients; for safety sake it would be well to have a night watchman for the female wards. Witness remembered Dr. Ordronaux’s investigation last year of the complaint of the shortness of provisions; that had not occurred since; Catherine Cole, a former at- rong left the * institution some time ago; the county kitchen is not under the there, but fents from her own tablo; there isa fair supply of le farnitare—knives and forks and linen; there isa much larger number of patients there now than was the case when Dr. Macdonald was superintendent; fre- qeney speaks with the physicians about the wants of the patients; the first difficulty witness had with Dr, Macdonald was on account of thelaundross, Anna Heenly, who left the laundry in a state of confusion upon permission of the doctor; witness saidto him it ‘was very unfuir of him to let her go without asking hor pormission; the doctor said that sho-too, would have to ask his permission to go out: witness asked him “Who are you—from whom do you obtain your posi- tion?” with that witness left his presence; the doctor had been rude and discourteous to her at the table; this trouble occurred in May of last year; the attend- ants all seemed to know of this difference, but as far as ‘witness was concerned she did not think it affected the discipling; witness said she never took visitors to see atients Who were in confinement; was not in the abit of calling patients by name; Mrs. Leggett, the old lady patient who was said to ‘have had her arm hurt, is very noisy and resists all effort to remove her clothes, Witness continued that she knew Gill varia one of the male attendants; never tried to bave him ds- charged; knew of a patient named Hardy, a brother- in-law of Dr. Macdonald; never exhibited him to a visitor as a relative of the doctor's; a lady came there one day, and while going round the balls she asked her if the witness knew Mr. Hardy, as she lived near his house; witness told her there was such a person and the visitor asked to see him; @ nurse showed-her the patient, but witness did not accompany her; it was not true that she (witness) could not distinguish that in- sanity is a diseaso; sue did know it to be a disease; never said, in 4 to the previous examination of Dr. Ordrouaux, that she did not wish her name to ap- pear, in public as it would endanger her place; never ad any diffeulty with any of the medi staf other than Dr, Macdonal OP THE STEWARD. James F. Scott, steward of the lunatic asylum, testi- fled that he had held that office sinco January, 1868; his duties were to receive and distribute supplies an: look after the hg oP the engineers are a separate aud distinct bureau, bat they are all under tl upervision ‘af the Superintendent; the meat and supplies for the diet tabi L cooygre. came up to the standard required therefor; not issue spirits to any one; the cook is under steward’s control; the coffee given the patients is puro and does not contain rye or peas; the quantity used is thirty-three pounds a day, for 700 patients, including boarders; bean soup and pork is issued on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; ‘witness testified that he m: j had notlately heard of take care of bis own brother never saw any patient abused there; did not know an attendant by the name of George Smith in the butlding; thero is a man named Schmidt there; his habits are good as far as witne: knows; Schmidt has been there three or four month: Losselio, the attendant who was discharged and re- employed, is now in hall “B;”’ knew Patrick Carr, had not n him lately; if he was employed at the Asylum he would be likely to know it; Dr. Blanchard makes out the rolls; the offects of patients, in the ovent of their ‘d are not given to the care of witness; over spoke as 6to)6the— cause of the leaving of Dr. Macdonald; witness had always got along with the several Superintendents since his connection. Witness desired to correot the statement of Miss Robinson in which she charged him with showing visitors pationts who were not fit to be seen; bad never shown visitors any patients savo such as wore in the halls; witness never slammed the door in the faco of Miss Robinson; on the day on which she alleges this radeness occurred witness was not in Flat- bus Miss Robinson here qualified her statomont, saying that she never stated that the steward had opened the door of a patient's room in the presence of visitors, The lady named also said, in reference to the food, that the pork had not boon ft to use for the past ce: Witness said it was very good, as be eat it him- bel DR. ATTWOOD. Dr, Attwood, first assistant physician of the asylom, testified that he had been connected with the Retreat, Hartford, Conn., and with the Blackwell's Island insti- tution; was in the habit of making two visite daily to the wards; pationts are examined on thetr arrival at the asylum; they are Pama eg their effects are j4 in a strong box in the office; there are some' things left by deceased persons, which are unclaimed; there is no medical library belonging to the institution; the treat- | ment is not noted in a book. but the ne ee was of opinion that tho station should teelt in repair, as well as any other Stato in- | in | supervision of the matron; frequently sent food for | attendants: month before male attendants $18 only; at the Institution in Flatbush ts more than on Blackwell's Island; tho selection otonpes here, especially . esbaacetems me case of Magee, ani Losselle, the nurse who was’ dis- ‘god for alloged cruelty to Magee, caused investiga- as (erodes char; tion; remembered a patient to the Jum com that he been Tobbel by “e ‘te 10 brought bim there; Mr. Maguire, one of the attendan' co up and said he hud got the money, pa] be ser give it to Commissioner Norris; the money is now in the strong box; the patient is still in the institution; in the discharge of patients witness always consulted Dr. Blanchard; Patrick O'Sullivan was ged at the request of his wife “improved,” not “cured;” it is ‘a peculiar case, as when he came back the last time be said he had quarrelied with his wife and he preferred to live in the asylum to being with her; knew Rilling, an ex-patient, who had testified before the committee, and remembered that he was very violent when received in the institution; attendants are instructed when a pa- tient. strikes them not to return the blow; witness did not know a single institution in the Stato in which “padded root or ‘dock bedsteads” are used. Dr. Ordronaux said the padded rooms wero almost as Obsolete as putting a gag in a patient’s mouth to keep him quiet, and it was impossible to keep them clean. ‘Witness said that Mra Cunningham had been kind to patients, with the exception of one instance, when tho matron took offence at the criticism upon her Performance on the piano by Miss Jenny Camp, a Yemal oye) the matron then told Jenny if she spoke in such terms again she would put her ina strait jacket and lock her up; this patient is fond of music, has a sharp ear therefor and 1s of a most sonsi- tive nature; in consequence of what Mrs, Cunningham said she was nervous and {ll for a week after; witness said he had seon attendants under the iniluence of liquor, but if they came in quietly and made po dis- turbance the offence was overleoked; should they create any disturbance the penalty was issal. Dr, Ordronaux said that the to the ladies of the State Aid in; the seleo- bad were most fortunate for the Visiting Com- mittee, ‘The investigation was then adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon. THE KINGS COUNTY SUPERVISORS, ECONOMY AND CHABITY—REDUCTION OF EX- PENSES—THE BUDGET FoR 1876. There was a regular meeting of the Kings County Board of Supervisors held yesterday afternoon, Super- visor-at-Large Fox in the chair, The business under consideration was the County Budget for the fiscal year terminating July 81, 1876. It was moved by Supervisor Ropes that the item of $95,000, for salaries of Charity Commissioners and their employés be cut down to $30,000. He ¢aid the Commissioners nad asked for $116,000, but the Board of Estimates had concluded to credit was duo economize, therefore, cut down the ant # $95,000, “7 should be reduced still further. le was per jon that rsons could be found “who would give bonds for furnishing clerks and assistants for that el he ment, at an annual outlay of only $60,000. In ness there was § oe ‘Shrink: and it was but proper that the public expenses should be reduced in proportion. Last January be informed the Board that the salaries of the Ch: Department of Kings county were largely in excess of thé amount paid by New York, thongh the latter county was caring , for double the number of poor. Supervisor O'Reilly asked his associates who were in favor of retrenchment to show him whore the reductions might bo made without impairing the efficiency of the department, He was in favor of leaving the budget as it is, in as much as the Board of Estimate had placed the items at the lowest possible figure. Supervisor Strong denounced the management of the Public Charities as a disgrace to the county, and le; lation to correct it was demanded perem} ‘ily. salaries he regarded as too high, and there were too many sinecures in the county institutions. A v lengthy debate ensued, resulting in the cutting down of the item in dispute to bag The Court House management was cut down cm 000 to $20,000. Fifteen thonsand dollars was inserted in the budget for completing the Thirteenth regimont armory. Tho jail und Sheriffs’ fees item was reduced from $60,000 to $55,000, This includes support for prisoners. The budget was then adopted, the amount being $1,250,000. POST’S PENITENTIARY PRACTICES, ‘Tho irrepressible Warden Post, of the Hudson county Penitentiary, New Jersey, ts again !n trouble, At the meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders at Jersey City yesterday serious charges were preferred against him by Freeholder Harper, who moved for a committee of investigation. The motion was opposed by Messra, O’Reilly, Cumming, Cronham and” Coykendall, but it was adopted. Director Young declared that he had in- tended to move a resolution similar to that offered by Mr. Harper, and he essrs. Harper, Coyken: charge is that he disc! yin several prisoners before the time fixed by the Courts had expit ‘This is 4 serious offence in the eyes of the law, no matter*what action the Board of Freeholders may take. One of the lib- erated prisoners was a notorious rowdy from Hoboken, who stole oue of the poll books at the spring election, thus securing the return as Freeholder of James Curran, Jr., who was unseated by the Court a few weeks ago, The commitie will meet on Monday, VERMILYEA VINDICATED. Some timo ago, as then reported in the Hsnatp, charges of a very serious character were brought against Mr. Vermilyea, Warden of the Essex County (N. J.) Penitentiary. It was alloged that his treatment of prisoners was not only most inhaman but positively brutal, A committee was appointed to investigate the charges. Yesterday the Board of Chosen Freeholders met and received the report of tho investigating committee, who unanimously agreed that the charges were not sustained; that whenever punishment was in- flicted it was deserved, and that, in the opinion of the | committee, the Penitentiary “Is in every respect well managed.” The committee making this report, which was adopted, consists of three republicans and three democrats, all men of the highest reputation in the community and whose words utterly dispose of the allegations against the Warden. At the same meeting of the Board of Freeholders Senator-elect Kirk, who ia a member, offered a resolution, which was Sdopted, that the next Legislature be.applied to for a repeal the act incorporating the Essex County Road Board. THE CUBAN CAPTIVE. Mr. Montes, of this city, received a letter yesterday from the Isle of Pines, where hjs brother Frederica Montes, an American subject, has been banished by the Spantards from Cuba, on suspicion of being im sympathy with the Cuban patriots, The letter ts dated October 30, and the following is an extract :— “We have been conveyed from San Nicolos to this island, apd we are now prisoners. Wo are herded to- gother like cattle, sleeping uncovered in the open air, d have to convey all our to our mouths by our bands, no knives or forks boing allowed us; and yet no specific es have been le us; nothing is expr tous butreal or feigned sym- by. bar Patterson, of Patterson, Major counsel for the imprisoned Montes, states that Secrotary of State Hamilton Fish 1s using every effort to hasten the in- vestigation through Consul Hal, at Havana, of this last bDlunder and outrage by the Spanish authorities in, Cuba. POLICEMEN’S TRIALS. Patrolman Hallock, of the Fifteenth precinct, was arraigned before Commissioner Disbecker, holding Court at the Central Department, yesterday, charged by Mr. MacLean, counsel to the Board, with having used pro- fano language toward him. On election day Mr. Mao- Lean requested the officer to cause the removal of « Dallot booth from too close proxim'ty to the polling place in the Third election district of the Seventh As- sembly district. The policoman replied, with an oath, that he would not do so, General M. T. MacMahon ap peared as witness In the case, and corroborated t! timony of Mr. MacLean. The defendant donied having used the offensive language. Detective William Keely, of the Central Office, was placed on trial before the same Commissioi charged with having received the sum of $10 from a prisoner named Joseph troreret whom he had arrested for fight ing. Edward Ri is took the stand and testified that Adams, on the way to Court with the detective, borrowed from him (Richards) the mon. ‘of paying the samo to the offices swear that Adams actually gave t cer, but he thought he did. Inthe absence of Adams the case was adjourned until next Monday. NEWARK’S MANTRAPS. Dr. Hendry, the medical attondant of Mrs. Coles, the aged lady who was injured by the railroad and horse car collision in Newark on Tuesday night, at the Brew street crossing of the Morris and Essex Rallroad, atatet yesterday that her condition was very critical ane that she may die. Her grandson, who was with ber, and also injured, 18 also reported as. eons, wore. Mra. Irving, another injured lady, is also growing worse, The conductor of the horse car, who was ar rested the night of the collision, has been discharged, no one making any charge against him. In this connection may be added the fact that the same rajlroad—the Delaware, Lackawanna and West ern—bhave served on the judicial authorities of Han ison, in Hudson county, a notice that they have ap peoaled the judgment rendered against them recontly the Supreme Court, The judgment was a trifle of $U for neglecting to provide @ fagman at a crossing. ¥* history of the case | apon it hinge hundreds of similar suite